642 THE AMERICAN FARMER 



ducks in a garden would well pay their raising merely as insect destroyers, provided no other 

 profit could be secured from them. When kept in confinement they are not as profitable as 

 hens, because they will consume more food, and lay a less number of eggs. Although water 

 fowls and ducks seem more happy and contented when having access to their proper element, 

 a pond, stream, or other body of water of some kind, still they may be raised upon farms 

 where there are no such water privileges, and seem to thrive well. Ducklings mature early, 

 grow rapidly, and at six months old they are ready for market and bring a fair price. Unless 

 there is a suitable place for hatching and rearing, it is better to set ducks eggs under hens, 

 Cochins or Brahmas being preferred. 



The breeding ducks should be kept in their yards in the morning until about ten o clock, 

 by which time they will have laid their eggs, after which they can have their liberty for 

 the day. It is a good plan to keep them laying through the breeding season, and set all 

 the eggs laid by the ducks under hens. It is surprising what a large flock can be reared 

 in this way from a trio of ducks. April, or the early part of May, is a good time for setting 

 ducks eggs. The young ducklings will then make their appearance about the time the grass 

 and insects will appear. When ducks are set, they should have from twelve to fifteen eggs, 

 and have a separate division of the duck house kept for this purpose. The door of her house 

 should always be left open during the day, and she should have sufficient water near by to 

 bathe in whenever she wishes. The average time of incubation is twenty-eight days. 



&quot;When hatched, the ducklings should not be disturbed for twenty-four hours, at the 

 expiration of which time they will be ready for their first meal, which should consist of hard 

 boiled eggs mixed with oatmeal, or stale bread crumbs soaked in milk ; afterward, when three 

 or four days old, give them oatmeal mixed with milk; corn meal scalded and fed warm; 

 boiled potatoes mashed and also fed warm. They will feed upon the tender grass and 

 insects, and will soon consume all the waste of the kitchen, and if a little pains be taken to 

 prepare the food in a proper manner, there need be but little outlay for their keeping. 



It is a good plan to let them have a run in the garden each day. If very young ducks 

 are allowed access to a river or stream, they are apt to fall an easy prey to turtles, snakes, 

 etc. Artificial ponds may be constructed for ducks, but they are objectionable unless they 

 can be supplied with fresh, pure water, as otherwise they would be Liable to become stagnant. 

 The ducklings of the larger breeds may be made to weigh nine or ten pounds per pair at 

 ninety days from the shell. Ducks should be fed every night when they return from their 

 foraging expeditions, which insures their regular return. Feed them about the same as 

 chickens, often, and all they want, if large birds are desired. When two months old, coarser 

 feed may be given. During the laying season, wheat, oats, milk, ground bone, a variety of 

 grain, mush or scalded meal, meat, egg shells, oyster shells, etc., should be given. Ducks 

 will lay better when they have access to ponds or streams, as they there find their natural 

 food. All ducks are heaviest and fattest in December. Later, as the breeding time 

 approaches, they become lighter; in this condition they lay better, and their eggs will also 

 hatch better. 



Duck Houses. In raising ducks a comfortable house should be provided for them, 

 having a good sized yard attached, to which, if practicable, access should be had to a small 

 body of water. An expensive house need not be made; any little low house will do for 

 ducks, which should be kept clean and well ventilated, and supplied with fine hay as a 

 bedding. A successful breeder of ducks says: We have known a flock of ten breeding ducks 

 to have been well kept in a house eight feet square and three or four feet high, with a yard ten 

 feet long. They were, of course, allowed their liberty during the day, after they had laid 

 their morning s supply of eggs.&quot; This would, of course, be very limited quarters for a flock 

 of ducks of this size, but ducks can be reared with much less house room than is required 

 for hens. Facilities for keeping a good supply of drinking water constantly on hand should 

 be made in a duck house; also feeding troughs the same as for hens. 



